Grapple



y pril S, 1944. M. B. BRANDEN GRAPPLE Filed May 11 A TTOE/UEY riff. www5, ,H4311 Patented Apr'. 18, 1944.-y

I 2,346,9oi

UNITED STATE S iAT ENT. OFFICE 2,346,901 y u A l kGRAPPLE Michael. Branden, Vancouver, Wash; ApplicationMay-ll, 1943, Serial No.' 486,593

9 claims. (ciega-104) This invention relates to grappling devices, and the primary object of the invention is toprovide a` grapplingtongthat can be op'eratedvfrom a remotedistance from the object to be grappled.

A; Ifurther object of the invention is to provide means .within the device for dislodging the object tofbegrappledlby either a hammer` action or by lifting.

.Anotllerobject of the invention is. to provide means forV extending the operating. handle to any desired lengthto meetdifferent operating conditions.

Andi a still further object ofithe invention is to provide operating levers at diierent intervals' of space' throughout the length of the operating` handle.

Y Theserand other incidental objects willbe ap-A parent'` inthe. drawing, specications and claims.

Referringto the drawing:

Figure l illustrates my device in an extended assembly and .belng'usedin'a typical concrete form for removing the spacer bars therefrom.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the grappling tongs and their operating mechanism.

' Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the operating lever for manipulating the grappling tongs.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the operating lever mechanism illustrating the method of connecting the extension units, parts broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view of one of the joints between the extension units, illustrating the opening push rods in their relation to one another within the extension handle.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary broken away view illustrating the locking means for holding the tongs in open position.

Figure '1 is a fragmentary detail of one of the tongs, taken on line 1-1 of Figure 2.

In the drawing:

My new and improved grappling tong consists of a rigid tong I, extending from the hollow shank v 2. Pivotally connected to the tong I at 3 is a movable tong 4. The tong 4 is operated by a connecting link 5 pivotally connected to the lever arm of the movable tong 4 at B, having its opposite end r pivotally connected to the plunger 1 at 8. The plunger 1 operates through the guide 9 longitudinally of the shaft 2. The guide 9 is iixedly secured within the shank by any suitable means, as a screw I II.

Surrounding the plunger 'I are two springs II and I2. The spring II rests upon the guide bearing 9; having'its vupper endnthreadedthrough the lower end; of the spring I2 at I3. Theispring I2 has. its. upper.' end bearing against. the cap I 4, which is'screwed, .or -v otherwise fastened tothe upper'endoftheplunger'1=,.atfI5.. Thevspring bears againsttheguide 9 andunderneath the cap I4 pullingV the plunger upward within the shank 2, pivoting the* tong 4 about its'pin 3thereby closing the tongs I'and 4 forceably together. .The force applied to the tong 4xmay bevaried by threading the springs IIqand1I2 relative to one another increasing or decreasingtheflength of the combined springs. In order Y'tofdothis an extension I6 isremoved from the upper: end of the lshank 2, giving access to the spring, I2. The spring I I isprevented from rotating-by asuitable stop, as at I-1', registering with a recess' in thevupper surface ofthe guide 9.

4The device ismadeup in different lengths by the-extensions'l8-and I9, or,more,rinvthe following manner. Within the extensions is locateda push rod 20, having a guide 2| secured to its upper end, and having its lower end registering with the cap I4 within the socket 22. The socket providing a means of guiding the push r-od to a central position Within the extension. A sleeve 23 surrounds the extension and is connected to the guide 2I by a suitable fastening means, as a shoulder bolt 24. The bolt 24 operates within a slot 25 located in the extension.

In the operation of my device an operating handle 26, forming part of the sleeve 23, is pushed towards the grappling tongs by the operator. This forces the push rod 20 against the plunger 1, compressing the springs II and I2, forcing the connecting link 5 towards the tongs, pivoting the tong 4 about its pivot 3, which will open the tong 4 relative to the tong I so that the object, as for instance the spacer 21 in Figure 1, is engaged by the tongs, the handle 26 is then released by the operator allowing the tongs to be closed by the springs II and I2.

In order to dislodge objects, as the spacer 21, I provide a foot 28 which forms part of the cover plate 29 for pounding the object 21, dislodging the same. The cover plate 29 is removably secured in place as by the bolts shown in Figure 2. The upper side 30 of the foot 2B provides a hook for engaging the object and pulling upward against the object. The foot 28 provides an effective means for dislodging the object to be grappled. In the event it is desired to hold the tongs open, the handle 26 is rotated when pressed downward so that the pin 24 will engage the notch 3|, holding the tongs in open position until released by the operator.

In the operation of my device, any length of tong extension can be assembled, and the tongs can be operated from one or more points 32 and 33 and so forth by the operator. One of the primary objects of my device is the operation of the same at diierent points throughout its entire length.

I do not wish to be limited to the particular mechanism illustrated, as other forms of embodiment may be employed, still coming within the scope of the claims to follow.

What is claimed as new is:

l. An extensible grapple, including independent sections provided for endwise removable connection, grapple tongs carried by one end of one section, a plunger in such section for moving the tongs relatively to open position, spring means for moving the tongs relatively to closed position, said spring means including independent springs formed for endwise inter-threading to vary the tension of the spring means at will.

2. An extensible grapple, including independent sections provided for endwise removable connection, grapple tongs carried by one end of one section, a plunger in such section for moving the tongs relatively to open position, spring means for moving the tongs relatively to closed position, the upper end cf the plunger terminating in a socket, and an independent plunger in each of the remaining sections for operative contact only'with such socket when the section is connected for use.

3. A construction as dened in claim 1, wherein the grapple means includes a xed tongl and a relatively movable tong.

4. A construction' as defined in claim l, wherein the tong-carrying section is provided with a cover plate to partly inclose the upper ends of the tongs, the lower end of the plate being formed-with a lateral hook and driving projection.

5. A construction as dened in claim 2, wherein a guide block is connected to the upper end of one independent plunger, and wherein a sleeve encircles the section adjacent the guide block, a connection being provided to fix the sleeve and block together, and a handle for moving the sleeve and thereby the block.

6. A construction as defined in claim 2, wherein a guide block is connected to the upper end of one independent plunger, and wherein a sleeve encircles the section adjacent the guide block, a connection being provided to nx the sleeve and block together, and a handle for moving the sleeve and thereby the block, and means for securing the handle in operative position.

7. A construction as defined in claim 2, wherein a guide block is carried by the upper end of each plunger and movable in the section carrying that plunger, the upper end of eacl guide block being formed with a depression to operatively receive the lower end of the plungerv of the superimposed section.

8. A construction as defined in claim 2 wherein a guide yblock is carried by the upper endof each plunger and movable in the section carrying that plunger, the upper end of each Yguide block being formed with a, depression to operatively receive the lower end of the plunger of the superimposed section, the depression being formed to align the successive plungers in superimposed sections for eiective endwise pressure.

9. A construction as dened in claim 1, wherein the tong-carrying section is provided with a cover plate to partly inclose the upper ends of the tongs, the lower end of the plate being formed with a lateral hook and driving projection,.the cover plate, hook, and driving projection being separable from the section at will to permit access to the upper parts of the tongs.

lVIICI-IAEL B. BRANDEN. 

